STORY TIME. Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss tells a story to students of Bagong Tanyag Elementary School in Taguig City on Tuesday (Jan. 9, 2024). The story-telling session was part of the inauguration of the Jerusalem Learning Resource Center. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
MANILA – The Israel Embassy in Manila has turned over a fully-furnished library to an elementary school in Taguig City.
Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss inaugurated the Jerusalem Learning Resource Center at Bagong Tanyag Elementary School (BTES) – Annex A as part of the embassy’s support to the Department of Education (DepEd).
“The center signifies the strong bond of friendship that exists between Israel and the Philippines. The seeds of friendship and cooperation have been sown,” Fluss said during the turnover ceremony on Jan. 9.
“This Learning Resource Center may seem small in physical size, but its impact on the intellectual growth of our young learners is immeasurable. We hope that this Center not only fosters a love for reading but also opens the door to a world of knowledge, creativity, and endless possibilities,” he added.
Education remains a strong foundation of Philippine-Israel relations, having been involved in DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela since 2015, Fluss said.
“This center is our contribution to Brigada Eskwela 2023 and we look forward to participating and contributing to future initiatives and opportunities in the education center,” he said.
The embassy funded the educational materials, TV set, water dispenser, fans, bean bags, and other amenities to make the library a conducive learning hub to the school's more than 2,000 students.
Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano thanked the Israeli government for the donation.
Despite the ongoing challenges faced by Israel against Hamas, the embassy said it is committed to continue strengthening relations with the Philippines.
Fluss during the ceremony also thanked the Philippines for standing in solidarity with Israel since Hamas attacked the country on Oct. 7.
He then called on Filipinos to support the call to bring back home the 132 persons being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Disability resource, dev’t hub
The Taguig City government also unveiled on Tuesday its disability resource and development center, the first of its kind in the country which is run by a local government unit.
According to the media release on Wednesday, Mayor Lani Cayetano graced the opening of the six-story facility in Barangay North Signal.
The facility serves as an important hub for information dissemination, program and policy development, and capacity building, catering to all disability stakeholders in Taguig.
It also offers speech therapy as part of its comprehensive range of free services, alongside adult and pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, and consultations with a rehabilitation medical doctor and developmental pediatrician.
It also facilitates the application, processing, and issuance of persons with disability (PWD) IDs and hosts free livelihood and developmental training programs.
Designed as a state-of-the-art facility, the center is the new home for the Persons with Disability Affairs Office and the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disability Services.
It also features various specialized rooms, including therapy rooms, consultation rooms, a multi-sensory integration room, training rooms, conference rooms, and even pantries.
The building also houses an E-library accessible to all Taguig residents. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
